Power Rankings: Top Post-Draft Defenses (21-26)
Dec 29, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Colts linebacker Robert Mathis(98) is introduced before the Jacksonville Jaguars game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Indianapolis Colts 10-6
Last Season’s Rankings: #20 Overall Defense (357.1 total yards per game allowed) #13 Passing Defense (231.9 passing yards per game allowed) #26 Rushing Defense (125.1 rushing yards per game allowed)
The Colts of the past have come and gone. Manning has moved on, Dwight Freeney has moved on, Antoine Bethea has moved on and now Pat Angerer has moved on. The only man who has remained constant is OLB Robert Mathis. 2014 is definitely going to be a different season for the Indianapolis Colts defensively. However, I think that with their off-season additions, they could still pull together and make the best out of what they’re given.
On the Colts’ front seven stars some young players as well as some long time veterans. On the defensive line the Colts have former Baltimore DT Arthur Jones (53 tackles, four sacks and five tackles for loss in 2013), DT Josh Chapman (15 tackles) and DE Ricky Jean Francois (19 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and two passes defended). With Pat Angerer now an Atlanta Falcon, the Colts will lose a big presence over the middle, however they added new LB D’Qwell Jackson out of Cleveland to help out in the middle. As one of the Browns primary line backers, D’Qwell Jackson showed he knows how to take ball carriers to the ground. In 2013 Jackson was able to register 141 tackles for the Browns. If there is one thing you need to know about Jackson, it is that he is a tackling machine. Throughout his career, Jackson has averaged over 93 tackles per season every single season of football he has played. With Jackson, the Colts will sure up a line backing corps that consists of OLB Robert Mathis (59 tackles, 19.5 sacks, six tackles for loss and eight forced fumbles), ILB Jerrell Freeman (126 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and six passes defended), OLB Erik Walden (45 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and three passes defended) and rookie ILB Andrew Jackson (108.6 tackles, 14.3 tackles for loss, 2.1 sacks and 3.3 QB hurries during final three seasons as a LB for Western Kentucky). Last season the Colts’ defense allowed 125.1 rushing yards per game (ranked 25th) along with 231.9 passing yards per game (13th). With D’Qwell and Andrew Jackson in the mix, those numbers should go down steadily. I think that 2014 will be yet another great season for both Robert Mathis and D’Qwell Jackson seeing that they are both experienced veterans who know how to handle opposing running games. The only problem I have with the Colts is with the defensive line. Of course Arthur Jones was a huge pickup, however I think that he won’t be enough to bolster the entire Colts’ rush defense. Look for Jackson and Mathis to definitely step it up in 2014.
As for the secondary, the Colts could use a little bit of help. After the loss of safety Antoine Bethea, the Colts secondary looked a little bleak. Without Bethea’s 110 tackles and six passes defended, the Colts are going to have to look to other sources of defense. For example, CB Greg Toler (23 tackles and six passes defended), CB Darius Butler (54 tackles, 15 passes defended and four interceptions), SS Delano Howell (19 tackles and one pass defended), FS LaRon Landry (87 tackles and two passes defended) and CB Vontae Davis (46 tackles and 12 passes defended) will most likely help out the Colts the most in 2014. Only reason why I am skeptical is because Davis and Butler are the only two decent pass defenders on the entire Colts’ roster. I think that in order to really thrive in 2014, the Colts safeties need to step up their overall play and protect the top of the defense.